The structures and thermal decomposition of cupric mono, di and trichloracetates

Magnetic moment measurements and ultra-violet diffuse reflectance spectroscopy have been used to investigate the structure of the chloroacetates of copper(II). These studies indicate that cupric monochloroacetate dihydrate is dimeric and cupric trichloracetate tetrahydrate is monomeric. Cupric dichloracetate tetrahydrate forms an intermediate case. The thermal decomposition of these compounds under nitrogen has been studied using thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis, together with analysis of the products of the decomposition. The major organic product formed in the thermal decomposition of the mono- and dichloracetates is the corresponding chlorinated acetic acid; the solid inorganic product is cuprous chloride. Thermal decomposition of the trichloracetate yields cupric chloride and a mixture of trichloracetic acid and trichloracetyl chloride.